Altindis Mustafa, Koroglu Mehmet, Demiray Tayfur, Yilmaz Kerem, Baran Inci Mustafa, Olmez Mehmet, Altindis Selma, Erkorkmaz Unal
Cent Eur J Public Health. 2020 Mar;28(1):74-78. doi: 10.21101/cejph.a5814.
Water-pipe smoking has become a serious public health threat worldwide. In order to raise awareness of adverse effects and transmission of bacteria via water-pipe smoking, we aimed to identify the bacteria and their antimicrobial resistance profiles that colonize different parts of waterpipes.
We examined totally 182 water pipes from 7 lounges (in Turkey) used in public places and we collected 728 culture samples in total by microbiological methods. We used disposable sterile swabs to sample the inside and outside of the mouthpiece, and the handling piece and sterile injectors were used to collect 5 mL of water from the water pipe bowl.
There was a significant (p < 0.05) difference in microbial contamination (growth/presence of bacteria and fungi) among the parts of the water pipes sampled. There was a significant (p < 0.05) difference in the number of bacteria growing (microbial load) among the parts of the water pipes. Only one narghile lounge out of seven, which had 13 water pipes, had a hygiene procedure. The water jars are often contaminated with Gram-negative bacteria.
Water pipes, especially the interior and outer part of the mouthpieces and the handle, are colonized by microbes and pose a risk of infection. Procedures for water pipe hygiene should be developed, periods should be defined, and the owners and employees of establishments and water-pipe smokers should be educated in this regard. Water-pipe smoking is a threat to public health and should be regulated by the state.
水烟吸食已成为全球范围内严重的公共卫生威胁。为提高人们对水烟吸食造成的不良影响及细菌传播的认识，我们旨在确定定殖于水烟不同部位的细菌及其抗菌耐药谱。
我们检查了来自土耳其7家公共场所水烟馆的总共182根水烟管，通过微生物学方法共采集了728份培养样本。我们使用一次性无菌拭子对烟嘴的内外进行采样，并使用无菌注射器从水烟壶中收集5毫升水。
在采样的水烟管各部位中，微生物污染（细菌和真菌的生长/存在情况）存在显著差异（p < 0.05）。水烟管各部位中生长的细菌数量（微生物负荷）存在显著差异（p < 0.05）。7家水烟馆中只有1家（有13根水烟管）有卫生程序。水罐经常被革兰氏阴性菌污染。
水烟管，尤其是烟嘴的内外部分和烟杆，被微生物定殖，存在感染风险。应制定水烟管卫生程序，确定周期，并在此方面对场所业主、员工和水烟吸食者进行教育。水烟吸食对公众健康构成威胁，应由国家进行监管。
